Reviews

Danse Macabre

Author: AG

8/21/2001 | Other Music Email Listing | Album Review

FAINT "Danse Macabre" (Saddle Creek) CD/LP $12.99/$9.99 RealAudio: 64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/LetThePo.rm RealAudio: 64.27.65.90:8080/ramgen/othermusic/GlassDan.rm
Ultravox, back when John Foxx was at the helm, scratched away a place for themselves between glam rock and punk. By utilizing synthesizers, they expanded electro-pop beyond what Kraftwerk had developed, giving birth to what would be known as the New Romantic movement. Soft Cell, Human League, OMD, Spandau Ballet, and Duran Duran (among others) followed (in retrospect, the tour for "Seven & The Ragged Tiger", as chronicled on 'Arena', effectively served as a death knell to the movement). It is these particular artists that The Faint most directly owe a debt to, although their lyrics, lights, and smoke-machine have more in common with The Cure. Songs of suicide, murder, death, and betrayal have them riding a wave much darker than their predecessors. Whether trying to create something new from old or simply picking up where others have left off, The Faint are scratching away their own place and can rest assured that there is a growing legion of emo-kids wearing Cure buttons out there waiting for more. Having jettisoned the more indie-rock elements of their prior albums, "Danse Macabre" is electro-pop of the highest order. Simply put, this is something fun to dance to... buy it, and enjoy!